Requirements for Specific Chemicals: Drugs, Poisons & Controlled Substances
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What are controlled substances?
Controlled substances are substances that are controlled by particular legislation, and include:
- prescription medicines;
- pharmacy-only medicines;
- drugs of dependence; and
- many household, industrial and agricultural chemicals.
Controlled substances are classified into Schedules 1-9, which each have different restrictions associated with them. The broad definition of these schedules appears in the Chemical Management Guidelines.
The list of controlled substances that fall into each schedule is a combination of the Poisons Code (Vic) and the Standard for the uniform scheduling of drugs and poisons(Cth).
Compliance requirements for controlled substances in the workplace
To use or store controlled substances in a workplace, you must meet the following requirements:
- All general requirements, as described in Chemical Management Key Topics.
- A further set of requirements specific to controlled substances, as described below.
Poisons Permit
In order to purchase and use drugs, poisons and controlled substances for industrial, educational, advisory or research purposes, Divisions/Departments are required to hold an Industrial and Educational Permit ("Poisons Permit"). Steps to obtain a Poisons Permit are below.
Application for an Industrial and Educational Permit
Complete the application form available from the Department of Health website.
Application to nominate a Responsible Person
You must nominate a Responsible Person for the poisons. This person must have certain qualifications, detailed in the Chemical Management Guidelines.
Complete the nomination/application form available from the Department of Health website.
Poisons Control Plan
Divisions/Departments must develop a Poisons Control Plan to apply for a Poisons Permit, and must maintain the Poisons Control Plan in order to continue to comply with existing Poisons Permits.
Poisons Controls Plan Part 1
Part 1 is required for all applicants and permit holders.
- Complete the Poisons Control Plan Part 1 template available from the Department of Health website.
- You may refer to the University's example completed Poisons Control Plan Part 1.
Poisons Controls Plan Part 2
Part 2 is required for applicants and permit holders for Schedule 8 and 9 poisons only.
- Complete the Poisons Control Plan Part 2 template available from the Department of Health website.
- You may refer to the University's example completed Poisons Control Plan Part 2.
Detailed Advice
Refer to the Chemical Management Guidelines for more detailed advice.
Labelling
All controlled substances should display their Poison Schedule on their label.
This is in addition to general labelling requirements set out in the Chemical Management Guidelines.
Access
Access to Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances that require an Industrial and Educational Permit should be restricted to persons who:
- work directly with the scheduled poison;
- have received chemical training;
- have been fully briefed on the chemical risk assessment; and
- are the nominated responsible person, or are staff/students directly under the control of the nominated responsible person.
Records
Transaction records must be kept for Schedule 4, 8 and 9 poisons. For requirements for the content of these records, refer to the Chemical Management Guidelines.
Records can be kept by either hard copy (eg logbook) or computer provided that they meet the requirements and cannot be altered, obliterated, deleted or removed without detection.